The early bird gets the worm…or a whole bunch of benefits when it comes to signing up in advance for your next race. Even though winter has barely begun, signing up now for next year’s races is smart. Below are some of the benefits to signing up as early as you can.
1) A Guaranteed Spot. There’s nothing worse than planning on doing a race and realizing you’ve missed out. When organizers say there’s a cap on entries, they mean there’s a cap on entries.

Not sure which race to sign up for? Check out our top 5 10K’s in North America.

2) Discounts. Most races offer lower entry fees for people willing to sign up early. There are usually a few dates where prices increase. Get in as early as you can to save the most money and treat yourself to a new pair of socks or a hat with your savings.
3) A Shirt That Fits. Organizers often pre-order shirts and end up with only so many in each size. To make sure you get that coveted small that will fit you just right, get your order in early. There’s nothing worse than an XL shirt on an XS runner, or vice versa!
4) A Little Extra Motivation. With a confirmed registration, you’ll be less likely to slack on your runs, especially on those cold mornings or snowy afternoons where lacing up your shoes feels next to impossible.

Read more on How to Keep Motivation Up As Temperatures Go Down.

5) Structure.  When it comes to training, having pre-planned races makes designing a program and sticking to it easier. Goal races, tune ups, and those that are just fun can all fit into a training plan, but to make it work you’ve got to know when they’re coming!
6) Stress Relief.  Especially if you’re heading to another city or even country to compete, an early registration will give you plenty of time to sort out logistics. For major races, finding a hotel can be a struggle if you wait too long.

Looking for a few Travel Tips for Runners? Click here.

Nobody wants to end up staying in an overpriced hotel that’s too far away from the starting line because they registered and planned their trip last minute. Save yourself the time, energy, and stress and figure out how you’ll make your destination race work smoothly ahead of time.

If you didn’t stop reading this to go register for the race you’ve been considering, find that registration form or bookmarked website already. You’ve got nothing to lose by signing up early—what are you waiting for?

 

About the Author: Cheryl Madliger is a group fitness instructor at the Western Student Recreation Centre at the University of Western Ontario, where she is working towards her degree in Kinesiology.  An avid cyclist, Cheryl has set her sights on completing an Ironman.  Not a fan of free time, she also enjoys yoga, baking, and blogging.

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